{"id":756,"date":"2023-03-06T11:36:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-06T11:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.usc.edu\/?page_id=756"},"modified":"2026-04-03T14:59:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T21:59:20","slug":"the-university","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.usc.edu\/we-are-usc\/the-university\/","title":{"rendered":"The University"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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The University<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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USC is a constellation of schools, centers and institutes where some of the brightest minds, working together in a dynamic and collaborative environment, are leading the way to the future of education and a healthier, more joyful and more sustainable Los Angeles and world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Leadership<\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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With a steadfast commitment to USC\u2019s mission, President Beong-Soo Kim leads the university in close partnership with its dedicated Board of Trustees, distinguished deans from 23 schools and academic units, and a dynamic senior administration\u2014all working together to advance a bold vision for USC\u2019s future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n

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Partnerships<\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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USC’s Good Neighbors Campaign is dedicated to transforming lives and communities for the better. For almost three decades, it has provided over $26 million in grants that foster collaboration between university staff, faculty and local nonprofits on projects with a lasting positive influence around both University Park and Health Sciences campuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n

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\n\n \n \n \nUSC Good Neighbors Campaign<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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Affordability<\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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The University of Southern California is making a long-term investment in the future, committing over $30 million of additional financial aid annually to ease rising costs and provide need-based financial assistance for students from all economic backgrounds. This generous commitment will ensure that deserving scholars won’t be left behind \u2014 no matter their financial situation \u2014 as they pursue their education at USC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n

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\n\n \n \n \nUSC’s Affordability Initiative<\/a>\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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3,500<\/h3>\n \n

USC supports 3,500 children in college access programs and more than 600 children in preschool and early literacy programs annually. The USC McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative enrolls close to 1,000 students every year.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n <\/span>\n \n <\/div>\n

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$773M<\/h3>\n \n

Total amount of financial aid disbursed by USC from all sources for 2021-22 including work-study and loans. Between 2017 and 2022, university need-based grant funding increased at an annual growth rate of 11.6%.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n <\/span>\n \n <\/div>\n

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24<\/h3>\n \n

Total number of faculty members that have been awarded a Nobel Prize, MacArthur “genius grants” or a National Medal. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n <\/span>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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USC Facts and Stats<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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History<\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n
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On October 6, 1880, the University of Southern California opened its doors to its first students. Fifty-three young men and women were enrolled in its two departments, the “academic” or preparatory department and the college department, later referred to as the College of Liberal Arts. Today, USC is home to more than 48,000 students and over 4,400 full-time faculty within its 23 schools and academic units, and is located in the heart of one of the biggest metropolises in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n

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University News<\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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\n Director Jason Reitman to headline USC School of Cinematic Arts commencement<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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Cinematographer Alice Brooks, known for In the Heights and the Wicked franchise, will receive the Mary Pickford Alumni Award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n

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\n Historian Robert Cohen, philanthropist Melanie Lundquist named USC Rossier commencement speakers<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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A scholar of social change and a visionary philanthropist will address this year\u2019s graduating class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n

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\n What you\u2019ll want to look for during this weekend\u2019s Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at USC<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n \n
\n\n \n Apr 14, 2026<\/span>\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
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\n USC Fisher Museum welcomes the National Archives\u2019 Freedom Plane National Tour<\/a>\n <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
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USC is the only university on the tour, an exhibition that brings some of America\u2019s most significant founding-era documents to communities around the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n

\n\n \n Apr 13, 2026<\/span>\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3529,"parent":1374,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-content-detail.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-756","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe University - USC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The University of Southern California is a leading private research university in LA \u2014 a global center for arts, technology and international business.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usc.edu\/we-are-usc\/the-university\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The University\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The University of Southern California is a leading private research university in LA \u2014 a global center for arts, technology and international business.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.usc.edu\/we-are-usc\/the-university\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"USC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-03T21:59:20+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.usc.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/14__GR43367.jpg.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1333\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"1 minute\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.usc.edu\/we-are-usc\/the-university\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.usc.edu\/we-are-usc\/the-university\/\",\"name\":\"The University - USC\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/usc.edu\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.usc.edu\/we-are-usc\/the-university\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.usc.edu\/we-are-usc\/the-university\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.usc.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/14__GR43367.jpg.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-03-06T11:36:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-03T21:59:20+00:00\",\"description\":\"The University of Southern California is a leading private research university in LA \u2014 a global center for arts, technology and international business.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.usc.edu\/we-are-usc\/the-university\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.usc.edu\/we-are-usc\/the-university\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.usc.edu\/we-are-usc\/the-university\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.usc.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/14__GR43367.jpg.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.usc.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/14__GR43367.jpg.jpg\",\"width\":2000,\"height\":1333,\"caption\":\"Flags from all the schools are carried in during the 2018 USC Commencement, Friday, May11, 2018. 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